Eryngium plant named ‘Paradise Jackpot’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Eryngium  plant named ‘Paradise Jackpot’, characterized by its upright and inverted narrow triangular plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; and compound flower heads with blue-colored flowers.

Botanical designation: Eryngium planum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Paradise Jackpot’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Eryngium plant, botanically known as Eryngium planum, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Paradise Jackpot’.

The new Eryngium was discovered by the Inventor in a controlled environment in Rijnsburg, The Netherlands, in July, 2001, as a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of an unnamed seedling selection of Eryngium planum, not patented. The new Eryngium was observed as a single plant from within a population of plants of the parent selection. The selection of this plant was based on its unique inflorescence form.

Asexual reproduction of the new Eryngium by cuttings in a controlled environment in Rijnsburg, The Netherlands since March, 2002, has shown that the unique features of this new Eryngium are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Paradise Jackpot has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Paradise Jackpot’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Paradise Jackpot’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Eryngium:

-   -   1. Upright and inverted narrow triangular plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Compound flower heads with blue-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Eryngium differ from plants of the parent selection primarily in inflorescence form as plants of the parent selection have simple (not compound) inflorescence heads.

Plants of the new Eryngium can also be compared to plants of the Eryngium planum cultivar Blue Dwarf, not patented. Plants of the new Eryngium differ from plants of the cultivar Blue Dwarf primarily in inflorescence form as plants of the cultivar Blue Dwarf have simple (not compound) inflorescence heads.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Eryngium. The photographs show the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Eryngium.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Paradise Jackpot’ grown in an outdoor nursery.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering stem of ‘Paradise Jackpot’.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical compound inflorescence of ‘Paradise Jackpot’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe plants grown in Rijnsburg, The Netherlands during the late summer in an outdoor nursery and under conditions and practices which approximate those generally used in commercial Eryngium production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 15° C. to 22° C. and night temperatures ranged from 6° C. to 13° C. Measurements and numerical values represent averages for typical flowering plants. Plants were about one year old when the photographs and description were taken.

-   Botanical classification: Eryngium planum cultivar Paradise Jackpot. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of an unnamed     seedling selection of Eryngium planum, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About 80 days at 12° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About six months at             18° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous, fleshy and thick; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form/growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; upright and             inverted narrow triangular plant habit; freely branching             with about nine lateral branches developing per plant.             Moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 64 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 37 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 13.6 cm. Diameter: About             3 mm. Aspect: Mostly upright to slightly outward. Strength:             Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Between 147C and             148B; tinged with 92B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple; sessile.         -   Length, upper leaves.—About 3.6 cm.         -   Length, lower leaves.—About 7.6 cm.         -   Width, upper leaves.—About 4.4 cm.         -   Width, lower leaves.—About 6.4 cm.         -   Shape, upper leaves.—Palmately lobed.         -   Shape, lower leaves.—Ovate.         -   Apex, upper leaves.—Mucronate.         -   Apex, lower leaves.—Mucronulate.         -   Base, upper and lower leaves.—Hastate.         -   Margin, upper leaves.—Serrate.         -   Margin, lower leaves.—Crenate.         -   Texture, upper and lower leaves, upper and lower             surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous; leathery.         -   Venation pattern, upper and lower leaves.—Pinnate.         -   Color, upper and lower leaves.—Developing foliage, upper             surface: 137C. Developing foliage, lower surface: 138A.             Fully expanded foliage, upper surface: 137B to 137C;             venation, 145D. Fully expanded foliage, lower surface: 138A;             venation, 138A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single rotate flowers arranged             on unique compound flower heads; flowers sessile.             Inflorescences arising from leaf axils. Freely flowering             habit with usually about 600 flowers developing per             inflorescence. Flowers persistent. Flowers face upright and             outwardly. Flowers moderately fragrant; unpleasant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Eryngium             initiate and develop flowers during the late summer and             flower continuously from August through October in The             Netherlands.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about two weeks on the plant.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 12.8 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 5.2 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 3 mm.         -   Flower length (depth).—About 5 mm.         -   Flower bud.—Shape: Obovate. Length: About 3 mm. Diameter:             About 1.5 mm. Color: 145B.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Five petals in a single whorl. Length:             About 1.8 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape: Elliptic. Apex:             Acute; recurved. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper and             lower surfaces: 97B to 97C. Fully opened, upper and lower             surfaces: 96A; color becoming closer to 98C to 98D with             development.         -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Five sepals in a single whorl. Length:             About 3 mm. Width: About 1.5 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute.             Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, immature, upper and lower             surfaces: 145B. Color, mature, upper and lower surfaces:             144A to 144B.         -   Inflorescence bracts.—Arrangement: About twelve bracts in a             single whorl subtending the flower head. Length: About             1.7 cm. Width: About 8 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Apiculate.             Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, immature and mature,             upper and lower surfaces: 137C.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 7.7 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Angle: Main peduncle, erect; lateral peduncles, about 30°             from vertical. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.             Color: Between 147C and 148B; tinged with 96D.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity/arrangement: About             four per flower. Anther shape: Ovate. Anther length: About             1 mm. Anther color: N92B. Filament length: About 2.5 mm.             Filament color: 97A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color:             156D. Pistils: Quantity: About two per flower. Pistil             length: About 3 mm. Style length: About 2.8 mm. Style color:             95D to lighter than 95D. Stigma shape: Rounded. Stigma             color: 95D to lighter than 95D. Ovary color: 144B to 144C.             Fruits/seeds: Fruit and seed development have not been             observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Eryngium have not been     shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Eryngium. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Eryngium have exhibited good     tolerance to rain and wind, have been observed to tolerate     temperatures from about −20° C. to about 35° C. 

1. A new and distinct Eryngium plant named ‘Paradise Jackpot’ as illustrated and described. 